OTC Elite’s Blankenship withdraws from Great Stirling race

By Curtis Anderson | Jan 11, 2019

EUGENE, Ore. – Due to a setback in training, Oregon Track Club Elite’s Ben Blankenship has reluctantly withdrawn from the Great Stirling Cross Country race in Scotland on Saturday.

Blankenship, a 2016 Rio Olympian in the 1,500 meters, was one of six runners chosen to represent Team USA in the 8K race against elite cross country teams from the United Kingdom and Europe.

“I’m disappointed I will not to be able to represent my country,” Blankenship said. “I had been looking forward to this opportunity since Club Cross."

Blankenship became eligible for the U.S. team by virtue of his individual 10K victory at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships in Spokane on Dec. 8. The former University of Minnesota All-American outlasted a deep and talented field of 425 runners to cross the finish line in first place with a time of 29 minutes, 21 seconds.